Matehuala
Matehuala | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
 Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Matehuala | |
  Matehuala  Matehuala | |
| Coordinates: 23°39′10″N 100°38′40″W / 23.65278°N 100.64444°W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | San Luis Potosí |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 1,302 km2 (503 sq mi) |
| • City | 23.20 km2 (8.96 sq mi) |
| Population (2020 census)[1] | |
| • Municipality | 102,199 |
| • Density | 78/km2 (200/sq mi) |
| • City | 86,686 |
| • City density | 3,700/km2 (9,700/sq mi) |
Matehuala is a city in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, situated at an elevation of about 1,500 m. Matehuala is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the northern part of the state, on the border with the southwestern corner of Nuevo León. The municipality of Matehuala has a population of 102,199, and an area of 1,302 km2 (503 sq mi).
History[edit]
Pre-Colonial[edit]
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the Potosi Plateau region was inhabited by the indigenous Guachichiles, a group of Chichimeca peoples that occupied the southern and central portions of the Mexican Plateau.[2] A nomadic people, they generally lived in small mobile villages and were primarily hunter-gatherers, making them experts of the local herbs and vegetation in the arid region.
The Guachichiles were known as fierce warriors.[3]
Colonial[edit]
Some sources claim that the name "Matehuala" was derived from a warning war cry of the Guachichiles that translates to "do not come [here]!"[4]
In the early 16th century, Spanish expeditions sought metals and mining opportunities in the Altiplano region. Captain Gabriel Ortiz de Fuenmayor and a contingent of soldiers, adventurers, and missionaries entered from Zacatecas, founding San Francisco de Matehuala in 1550. The Chichimec War erupted in 1549, lasting 40 years, causing the abandonment of Matehuala. Viceroy Luis de Velasco organized expeditions between 1551 and 1553 to end the war, using allies to settle for peace and create settlements.
The conflict continued until 1568 when frontier presidios were established. King Philip II sought peace negotiations, leading to conferences attended by indigenous leaders. In 1638, Matehuala's possession changed hands due to language barriers. By the 17th century, mineral discoveries boosted Matehuala's economy.
In 1706, the town's second founding occurred after a commission verified land ownership. In 1786, New Spain was divided into intendancies, including San Luis Potosí. In 1799, a parish was established in Matehuala, although conflicts between Spaniards and indigenous people resurfaced due to fees for newcomers. The mining boom in Real de Catorce led to economic growth in Matehuala. Finally, in 1808, Matehuala was designated a villa, marking a significant historical event.
Government[edit]
Municipal presidents[edit]
| Term | Municipal president | Political party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Mariano Vázquez López | ||
| 1939-1940 | Octaviano Briones Cortez | PRM | |
| 1940 | Antonio Verástegui Cruz | PRM | |
| 1940-1943 | Nicolás López Loera | PRM | |
| 1943-1945 | Miguel Ángel Santos | PRM | |
| 1945 | Nicolás López Loera | PRM | |
| 1945-1946 | Horacio Medellín Cruz | PRM | |
| 1946-1949 | Roberto Alderete Aguilar | PRI | |
| 1949-1952 | Nicolás Sánchez Pérez | PRI | |
| 1952-1955 | Enrique de la Cruz Zepeda | PRI | |
| 1955-1958[5] | Santiago J. Vivanco Castillo | PRI | |
| 1958-1961 | Jesús Pérez Barba | PRI | |
| 1961-1964 | Antonio Nava Sánchez | PRI | |
| 1964-1967 | Adalberto Tamayo López | PRI | |
| 1967-1970 | Alfonso Dibildox Martínez | PRI | |
| 1970-1973 | Eduardo Rocha Pérez | PRI | |
| 1973-1976 | Tomás Zárate Sánchez | PRI | |
| 1976-1979 | José Mahbub Matta | PRI | |
| 1979-1982 | Antonio Ávila Lomas | PRI | |
| 1982-1985 | José Nava Sánchez | PRI | |
| 1985-1988 | Pascual Gallegos Montalvo | PRI | |
| 1988-1991 | Virgilio Castillo Andrade | PRI | |
| 1991-1994 | Paulino Martínez Carmona | PRI | |
| 1994-1997 | Justo Fernando Torres Rangel | PAN | |
| 1997-2000 | Raymundo García Olivares | PRI | |
| 2000-2003 | Gregorio Antonino Maldonado Vázquez | PAN | |
| 2003-2006 | José Everardo Nava Gómez | PRI PVEM | |
| 2006-2009 | Víctor Manuel Mendoza Ramírez | PAN | |
| 2009-2012 | Francisco Javier Hernández Loera | PAN Panal |
|
| 2012 | Édgar Morales Pérez | PRI PVEM |
Municipal president-elect. Never in office. Was assassinated on 12 August 2012 |
| 2012-2015[6] | Héctor Fermín Ávila Lucero | PRI PVEM |
Substitute. He was appointed municipal president by the City Council of Matehuala |
| 2015-2018 | José Everardo Nava Gómez | PRI PVEM Panal |
|
| 2018-2021[7] | Roberto Alejandro Segovia Hernández | PVEM Panal |
|
| 2021-2023[8][9] | Iván Noé Estrada Guzmán | PAN PRI PRD PCP |
Notable people[edit]
- Juan José Ortega, film director and producer (1904–1996)
- Octavio Medellín, artist and sculpturor (1907–1999)
Notable buildings[edit]
- The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Matehuala has the same architectural style as the Church of Saint Joseph des Brotteaux, in Lyon, France. Its construction started in 1898 and was never finished.
- Iglesia Santísima de Guadalupe
References[edit]
- ^ Citypopulation.de Population of Matehuala municipality with localities
- ^ Mellink, Eric; Riojas-López, Mónica E.; Rivera-Villanueva, José Antonio (2018-04-02). "Reconsideration of the nomadic condition of the southernmost Guachichiles based on the relationship with their environment". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 14 (1): 24. doi:10.1186/s13002-018-0223-x. ISSN 1746-4269. PMC 5880072. PMID 29609628.
- ^ Schmal, John P. (2004). "Los Antepasados Indígenas de los Guanajuatenses: A Look into Guanajuato's Past".
- ^ Post, The Mexico Daily (2021-08-08). "Matehuala, where the Guachichiles resisted the Spanish conquest - San Luis Potosi Post". Mexico Daily Post. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- ^ "Enciclopedia de los Municipios y Delegaciones de México. Estado de San Luis Potosí. Matehuala" (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Nombra Cabildo a nuevo alcalde en Matehuala, SLP" (in Spanish). 1 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Consejo Estatal Electoral y de Participación Ciudadana de San Luis Potosí, CEEPACSLP. Acta de cómputo municipal de la elección para el Ayuntamiento de Matehuala, 2018" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Consejo Estatal Electoral y de Participación Ciudadana de San Luis Potosí, CEEPACSLP. Acta de cómputo municipal de la elección para el Ayuntamiento de Matehuala, 2021" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Resultados Elecciones 2021: Alianza PT-PVEM gana mayoría de municipios en SLP. Matehuala → Iván Noé Estrada Guzmán". Alcaldes de México (in Spanish). 16 June 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
External links[edit]
- Gobierno Municipal de Matehuala Official website
- www.portalmatehuala.com
- www.matehuala.com.mx
- Pagina Oficial de la Delegación D-II-86 Matehuala
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
- San Luis Potosí Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México
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